1889 New York. Harrison Fearing Pell and James Weston, investigators for the Society of Psychical Research are seeking a Kidman in the sewers. But she is asked by James Moran for help as old friends of his have been dying in strange circumstances.
An entertaining Victorian paranormal mystery. ( )

In New York City, 1889 there exists a special unit, the Society for Psychical Research which handles cases of the paranormal variety. Harrison Pell and John Weston are currently investigating a case of a mud man that has attacked and scared many residents in the Tenderloin district. While chasing down a golem in New York's sewer system is not exactly what Harrison relishes, she is glad to have cracked the case for the SPR. Harrison is much more interested in the strange deaths of Columbia students that have been happening where witnesses have sworn that they have seen the deceased somewhere else at the time of death. Despite her best attempts, Harrison is denied the case. However, she is hired privately by one of New York's notorious criminals, James Moran. Moran is terrified that he will be next in the series of deaths. Harrison and James learn more of the series of events and doppelganger folklore in order to save the life of a criminal that they would rather see dead.

Dead Ringer is a paranormal murder mystery in the Gilded Age of New York City. I was immediately pulled into the story as Harry hunted down a mysterious being in the New York City sewer system. The characters are all very well developed. I loved Harry's sense of adventure, bravery and perspective throughout the story. Her partnership with John is sincere, sweet and not forced. Moran kept me guessing throughout the whole story as to where his motives lie and his true nature. All of these characters definitely have more to say and do and I hope their stories continue throughout the Gaslamp Gothic series. I very much enjoyed the paranormal parts of the book, expanding on not as well known creatures. The folklore behind the golem and doppelgangers is complex and interesting. They both made for great monsters. The setting also took me through many different parts of New York in 1889, giving me a good feel of the diversity of people, homes and entertainment at the time. The writing kept the story at a fast pace with excitement, intrigue and suspense building the whole way through; I can't wait to read more!

This book was received for free in order for a honest review. ( )

What does Jewish lore have to do with the Germanic folk legend of doppelgangers? Find out in Dead Ringer, fifth in Kat Ross' Gaslamp Gothic series.

Dead Ringer rejoins Harrison Fearing Pell and Jonathan Weston of the American branch of the SPR. The pair are tasked with solving a case involving a 'mud man' attacking people and retreating into the sewers. So far, the attacks have only resulted in scares, but no serious harm. Harry's beginning to think the mud man is escalating his aggressive tendencies. At first, they aren't even sure if the mud man is actually something under the SPR's purview, or simply a deranged, filthy human. An underground encounter assures them that the creature is, indeed, preternatural. When Harry gets hired as a private consultant by one of the city's criminal masterminds, on a case the SPR's other pair of agents is working, it becomes obvious that the two cases have a link. Question is, can Harry keep her client alive, and keep her sister from finding out she's working for him, while placating her superiors at the SPR?

As much as I love the European SPR team (especially since there are daevas), I absolutely adored Harry and Weston! They just work so well together for one. Harry's sister is like a female American Sherlock, which I also loved, and didn't expect. You don't get tons of interaction with Myrtle, but what's there is priceless. I also really liked Moran, the criminal mastermind Harry is trying to keep alive. He's one of those grey characters. Yeah, he's a criminal, and dangerous, but there's so much more going on beneath the surface. He's Myrtle's Moriarty, and every bit as intelligent and complex. As the story progresses, you learn a lot of backstory, and it explains so much. In the end, Moran not only saves someone he'd much rather kill, but he ends up paying for her care in an institution after she suffers an aneurysm. Really hope to see him again in the future.

The lore included in this story delved into the more unusual. I always appreciate this. Things that have become staple tend to be boring. Ross does an awesome job of researching lore for her stories. This take weaves Jewish legend with Germanic, making good use of both. I loved the probability aspect to the doppel's existence, though it'd be kinda sucky to be on the receiving end of the bad luck! Greatly looking forward to the next in the series, and hoping it is av Harry and Weston one. Recommended it you enjoy Victorian era stories, the preternatural, and/or Sherlock Holmes.

***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.This book was reviewed for XPresso Blog Tours ( )

If the X-Files were set in turn of the century New York Dead Ringer would make a great episode.

I'm not much of a fan of mysteries, but Dead Ringer is a tension-building fast paced story that has enough of the fantasy elements, plus good characters that kept me interested.

The whole Gaslamp Gothic series is very moody. The dark streets of the seedier parts of New York can practically be felt (I was just glad I couldn't actually smell the sewers.) I could perfectly picture the stately manor of the Moran family and the Central Park gardens on a sunny afternoon. And I wanted to close my eyes with Harry when she is creeping up the steps and has to navigate the one squeaky spot. Mood in this book is 💯.

I enjoyed coming back to Harry and John after spending two books of the series centered on Gabriel and Anne. And although you could start with the The Daemoniac, the first book in the series, you don't need to. Like a good Sherlock Holmes novel Dead Ringer carries its own weight, and although reading the other books will give you more of a backstory with the characters and world-building it isn't necessary to enjoying this entry.

Kat Ross always has good characters in her books, as in deep, thoughtful well-written characters that you want to take out to tea and spend an afternoon talking to, even the criminal mastermind James Moran would be interesting company for an afternoon.

Harry and John have great chemistry and I hope their slow burn romance will have some big payout in a future book.

Bottom Line:

Dead Ringer is a moody gothic supernatural mystery that I think will appeal to readers across genre lines. It's just plain good.

Note: I received this book free though Xpresso Book Tours. ( )